Reconstructing the lives of Wari elites: Paleomobility and paleodiet at the archaeological site of Castillo de Huarmey, Peru

Integration of ancient DNA with transdisciplinary dataset finds strong support for Inca resettlement in the south Peruvian coast

“…The 87 Sr/ 86 Sr relative abundance ratios range from 0.70618 to 0.70732 with a mean of 0.70706 ± 0.00032 (1σ, n = 42). In general, these data overlap with the ranges of 87 Sr/ 86 Sr values of archaeological soil samples from the Huarmey Valley of the north coast (0.70595 to 0.70792) ( 33 ), modern soil samples from the Lurín (0.70519 to 0.70805) and Rimac (0.70676 to 0.70712) Valleys of the central coast ( 36 ), and modern soil samples from the Pisco (0.70704 to 0.70801) and Ica (0.70711 to 0.70761) Valleys of the south coast ( 37 ). Thus, based on strontium isotope data alone, these individuals likely derive from a coastal Andean region, but their more precise geographic origins are unclear.…”

“…Measurement of 87 Sr/ 86 Sr relative abundance ratios has been used to infer mobility in the Andes (32). While this approach can identify highland-coast movement, it currently cannot reveal movement among many coastal regions where geological signatures are homogeneous (33,34). For example, strontium isotope ratios were measured in 42 tooth enamel samples from seven individuals found in UC-012 Tomb 33 (35).…”

Patterns of camelid management in Wari Empire reconstructed using multiple stable isotope analysis: evidence from Castillo de Huarmey, northern coast of Peru

“…The Sr local range for Castillo de Huarmey, although presented in Knudson et al (2017) Sr ratios that fall within the estimated local range and three (CdH-3420, CdH-3451/52m, CdH-3436) have ratios decidedly higher than the others Knudson et al (2017). The exact sample distribution is presented on the map published in Knudson et al (2017) ( Fig.…”

“…The local range for Sr and Pb ratios can be estimated using the environmental average values ± two standard deviations (Price et al 2002). The Sr local range for Castillo de Huarmey was determined by Knudson et al (2017). For Pb, we assayed two soil samples from two mortuary contexts, the mausoleum (A1) and the palatial complex (B1), and two andesite samples (RP1 and RP4) collected in the vicinity of a site.…”

“…The stable oxygen isotope value (δ 18 O) of an organism depends on the local sources of potable water and therefore can be a useful tool to infer mobility (Knudson et al 2012 O of water from two local wells and a spring were analyzed, with a mean value of − 10.93 ± 0.76‰ (SMOW) (Knudson et al 2017).…”